New Release: Local Shakedown, Vol. 3 – Radio 1190’s brilliant snapshot of the Denver scene
October 13, 2009 Off

New Release: Local Shakedown, Vol. 3 – Radio 1190’s brilliant snapshot of the Denver scene

By Billy Thieme

If you’re familiar with Radio 1190 (KVCU Boulder, The University of Colorado at Boulder’s independent station) in general, or their weekly Friday afternoon show dedicated to the local scene in particular, you already have a pretty good idea of the significance of this release. “Local Shakedown, Vol 3,” is the third installment of the radio station’s compilation of the best of the local best, and this year’s promises to be the best so far.

Sian Alice Group, Gangcharger @ the Hi-Dive, 10/06/09 – Reverb
October 9, 2009 Off

Sian Alice Group, Gangcharger @ the Hi-Dive, 10/06/09 – Reverb

By Billy Thieme

Sian Alice Group filled the Hi-Dive last Tuesday with a resplendent sound that coaxed visions of quiet, snow-filled night streets as easily it did hot, tribal raves in the desert. Unfortunately, their tremendous performance was about all that filled the venue, as the crowd was far smaller than it should have been, even for a school night.

She Wants Revenge, Kill Hannah @ the Bluebird Theater, 10/4/09 – Reverb
October 8, 2009 Off

She Wants Revenge, Kill Hannah @ the Bluebird Theater, 10/4/09 – Reverb

By Billy Thieme

The band’s show at the Bluebird Theater last Sunday night turned out to be a perfect place to show off their emulative prowess, featuring a playlist of songs heavily influenced as much by old school bands like Joy Division, Bauhaus, the Cure and Soft Cell as Interpol and Nine Inch Nails, and with more than a bit of Rick James’ funk.

New Releases: Lisa Germano, Elvis Perkins In Dearland – 10/06/09
October 6, 2009 Off

New Releases: Lisa Germano, Elvis Perkins In Dearland – 10/06/09

By Billy Thieme

Germano: The first time I heard the ethereal, esoteric and often terrifying music of Lisa Germano on her CD “Happiness” in 1994 (through oversized headphones attached to my DiscMan), I was immediately addicted.

Perkins: Elvis Perkins’ musical genre falls somewhere between dixieland jazz and “freak folk,” between Hollywood and Bourbon Street. He and the other members of ” Elvis Perkins In Dearland” are about to release the new 6-song “Doomsday EP,” a perfect melange of their sound, October 20.

Clutch @ The Fillmore, 09/30/09 – Reverb
October 5, 2009 Off

Clutch @ The Fillmore, 09/30/09 – Reverb

By Billy Thieme

Clutch is heavy. Heavy enough to pull in all the roots of punk, metal, funk and grunge and bundle them into the perfect musical explosive. Their performance at the Fillmore last Wednesday proved it, as they pummeled a more than willing, near capacity audience with over 90 minutes of material from all over their musical history.

Introducing: 43rd Street Zoo Presents – promoting Denver’s punk and techno scenes
October 2, 2009 Off

Introducing: 43rd Street Zoo Presents – promoting Denver’s punk and techno scenes

By Billy Thieme

“. . . . Our vision for 43rd Street Zoo Presents [is] to bring together the people of two different music scenes, and to expose people to music they might not otherwise consider listening to. Cardinal, whose real name is Kevin Carlberg, is from the drum and bass/techno scene, and I have my roots in punk and rock. We cross-promote across the two scenes, and have begun building a community around this concept at different venues around Denver, including the famous Lion’s Lair on Colfax Ave.” – Brandi Darling of 43rd Street Zoo Presents, on promoting two of Denver’s strongest scenes. . . .

Echofest ’09: In this case, it’s the first time that’s charmed – Echo Mountain – 09/26/09
September 29, 2009 Off

Echofest ’09: In this case, it’s the first time that’s charmed – Echo Mountain – 09/26/09

By Billy Thieme

While the new outdoor festival, put on for the first time last Saturday at Echo Mountain, is certainly no Monolith (yet), it was well attended, and went off pretty much without a hitch.
Arranged and staged in a cooperative effort between local sponsor JamSpace, local promoter Whisper Fiercely and Echo Mountain, the all-day festival featured a lineup of about 20 local Denver bands on two stages, set up smack in the middle of the mountain’s bunny hill and nestled against the “magic carpet” lift, and attracted a crowd that at one point looked like it was comprised of more than 100 fans, despite some pretty stiff winds, wild temperature swings, and a rugged, campground atmosphere.
As you can imagine, putting on any live show isn’t a walk in the park. There are so many places where things can go wrong – from bands canceling at the last minute (even if they do actually call and let the promoter know) to equipment problems, to a myriad of other problems, any of which have the potential to bring all the promoter’s and venue’s efforts to naught, which is to say nothing about any return on their investments in both time and money.
Try and imagine doing it outside, on the side of a mountain, in the middle of a skiing/boarding park, more than 30 minutes from downtown, and more than 12 miles from the nearest significant power grid. Not only are there the usual equipment and sound considerations to contend with, but now you’ve added weather, terrain, transportation and power challenges that no other venue faces, even on their worst day.